Cardiopulmonary resuscitation device and method

ABSTRACT

A cardiopulmonary resuscitation device and method that combines artificial, emergency ventilation of a patient&#39;s lungs with chest compressions on the patient&#39;s sternum area. The device includes a self-inflating bag having a top side, a bottom side, and an outlet port through which the content of the bag is forced when the top side of the bag is pushed toward the bottom side of the bag; target indicia on the self-inflating bag to indicate the proper position of the self-inflating bag on the patient&#39;s sternum area and to indicate the proper location on the self-inflating bag for applying force to the top side of the self-inflating bag; a face mask for placement over the patient&#39;s mouth and nose; and a tube extending from the outlet port of the self-inflating bag to the face mask.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to a device and a method thatuses a squeeze bag-type resuscitator in a manner that incorporatescardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) type chest compressions.

2. Background Art

Two general emergency procedures used when a patient's normal breathinghas been disrupted are the use of self-inflating, squeeze bagresuscitators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Self-inflating, squeeze bag resuscitators are commonly used forartificial, emergency ventilation of a patient's lungs to revive thepatient when normal breathing has been disrupted, but the patient'sheart is still beating. Several types of such self-inflating, squeezebag resuscitators are in wide use, and are sometimes referred to asrespirators. The typical self-inflating, squeeze bag resuscitatorconsists, in general, of an airtight face mask that fits over thepatient's nose and mouth, and a self-inflating bag connected to the facemask. When the bag is squeezed, air or oxygen is forced from the baginto the patient's lungs. The bag re-inflates automatically whenreleased, drawing atmosphere air, etc., into the bag through a bag fillvalve (a one way, inward flow check valve) typically located eitherbetween the bag and face mask or at the end of the bag opposite from theface mask. Air from the lungs leaves the mask by some type of escapevalve (often referred to as a nonrebreathing or NRB valve) withoutreturning to the bag.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is administered when a patient stopsbreathing and the patient's heart stops beating, due to sudden cardiacarrest or the like. CPR includes mouth-to-mouth breathing, and chestcompression. To perform mouth-to-mouth breathing, the patient's nose ispinched shut and the rescuer blows directly into the patient's mouth.After mouth-to-mouth breathing, the rescuer then performs chestcompression by pushing down on the patient's chest right between thenipples (i.e., the sternum area).

Nothing in the known prior art, either singly or in combination,discloses or suggests the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a device and a method that uses asqueeze bag-type resuscitator in a manner that allows a rescuer tocombine artificial, emergency ventilation of a patient's lungs withcardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) type chest compressions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cardiopulmonaryresuscitation device and method that combines a squeeze bag-typeresuscitator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) type chestcompressions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such acardiopulmonary resuscitation device and method that incorporatespumping pure oxygen into the patient's lungs with the first squeeze ofthe squeeze bag-type resuscitator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such acardiopulmonary resuscitation device and method that incorporatespumping medicine into the patient's lungs with the first squeeze of thesqueeze bag-type resuscitator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the cardiopulmonaryresuscitation device of the present invention, shown with the face maskthereof placed over a patient's mouth and nose, and with theself-inflating bag thereof placed on the patient's chest with the targetindicia on the self-inflating bag positioned over the patient's sternumarea.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view somewhat similar to FIG. 1 butwith a rescuer compressing the self-inflating bag to ventilate thepatient's lungs and compress the patient's sternum area.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cardiopulmonary resuscitationdevice of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the self-inflating bag and a portion of theoutlet port of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the self-inflating bag and a portion ofthe outlet port of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view somewhat similar to FIG. 4 but with portionsof the self-inflating bag broken away to show the interior thereof withcertain optional elements positioned within the self-inflating bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cardiopulmonary resuscitation device of the present invention isshown in FIGS. 1–6, and identified by the numeral 11. The device 11 usesa modified squeeze bag-type resuscitator 13 in a manner that allows auser/rescuer R to help or rescue a patient P by combining artificial,emergency ventilation of the patient's lungs with cardiopulmonaryresuscitation (CPR) type chest compressions on the patient's sternumarea SA.

The squeeze bag-type resuscitator 13 preferably includes a typicalself-inflating squeeze bag 15 constructed so that when the bag 15 issqueezed or otherwise compressed, air or oxygen is forced from theinterior of the bag 15 out some type of outlet port or connector 17 forallowing the squeeze bag 15 to be connected to other parts of theresuscitator 13, e.g., to a face mask 19 for placement over a patient'smouth and nose. The face mask 19 (sometimes called a facepiece)typically includes a mount 21 for connection to the squeeze bag 15 orthe like and a body 23 with a seal member 25 about the edge thereof toallow a substantially air-tight seal to be formed between the face mask19 and the patient's face. The face mask 19 may also include an elastichead band or the like (not shown) for securing the body 23 thereof tothe patient's face. The resuscitator 13 typically includes some type ofescape valve 27 (often referred to as a nonrebreathing or NRB valve)mounted between the outlet port or connector 17 of the bag 15 and theface mask 19 so that after the face mask 19 is placed over the patient'smouth and nose, air from the patient's lungs will leave the face mask 19through the escape valve 27 without returning to the bag 13. When thebag 15 is released, etc., it will re-inflate automatically, drawingatmosphere air, etc., into the bag through a bag fill valve 29 (i.e., aone way, inward flow check valve) that is combined with the bag 15 incommunication with the interior thereof by being coupled to theconnector 17 or attached directly to the bag 15, often at the end of thebag 15 directly opposite from the connector 17. While the shape and sizeof the bag 15 can vary as will now be apparent to those skilled in theart, in general, the bag 15 has one side that can be designated as thetop side 31 and another side that can be designated as the bottom side33.

The device 11 of the present invention includes target indicia 35 on theself-inflating bag 13 to indicate the proper position of theself-inflating bag 15 on the patient's sternum area SA and to indicatethe proper location on the self-inflating bag 15 for applying force tothe top side 31 of the self-inflating bag 15 in order to performartificial, emergency ventilation of the patient's lungs followed bycardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) type chest compressions on thepatient's sternum area SA. The target indicia 35 preferably includes abottom target indicia 37 on the bottom side 33 of the self-inflating bag15 to indicate the proper position of the self-inflating bag 15 on thepatient's sternum area SA, and preferably includes a top target indicia39 on the top side 31 of the self-inflating bag 15 to indicate theproper location on the self-inflating bag 15 for applying force to thetop side 31 of the self-inflating bag 15 in order to perform artificial,emergency ventilation of the patient's lungs followed by cardiopulmonaryresuscitation (CPR) type chest compressions on the patient's sternumarea SA. While the specific construction, shape and size of the bottomand top target indicia 37, 39 can vary as will now be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, each bottom and top target indicia 37, 39 mayconsist merely of a visually and/or tactually distinctive, circularshaped decal, piece of tape, etc., attached to the appropriate surfaceof the bag 15.

The device 11 of the present invention includes a tube 41 extending fromthe outlet port 17 of the self-inflating bag 15 to the face mask 19 sothat air forced out of the bag 13 through the outlet port 17 thereofwill pass to the face mask 19 and into the patient's lungs when the facemask 19 is placed over the patient's mouth and nose. The tube 41 ispreferably elongated and flexible for allowing the self-inflating bag 15to be positioned over the patient's sternum area SA while the face mask19 is placed over the patient's mouth and nose. While the exact size,length and construction of the tube 41 may vary as will now be apparentto those skilled in the art, the tube 41 may be constructed out oftypical, medical grade, flexible plastic hose sized to fit the mount 21of the face mask 19 and the escape valve 27, and long enough to extendbetween the patient's sternum area SA and face while allowing the bag 15to be properly positioned on the patient's sternum area SA with the facemask 19 properly positioned simultaneously over the patient's nose andmouth. The tube 41 is preferably designed to retrofit through adaptableconnectors any standard tracheobronchial tree or bronchial tube. Thiswill allow a user/rescuer R to administer to the patient P who has beeninjected with a tracheobronchial tree or bronchial tube with the samemethod of cardiopulmonary resuscitation without the face mask 19.

The device 11 may include a quantity of pure oxygen 43, or high oxygencontent air, within the bag 15 so that the quantity of pure oxygen 43 isforced into the patient's lungs the first time the bag 15 is squeezedafter the face mask 19 is positioned over the patient's nose and mouth.

The device 11 may include a pharmaceutical composition 45 within the bag15 so that the pharmaceutical composition 45 is forced into thepatient's lungs the first time the bag 15 is squeezed after the facemask 19 is positioned over the patient's nose and mouth. Thepharmaceutical composition 45 may consist of a single drug or chemical,or a combination of drugs or chemicals.

The device 11 may include release valve or seal (not shown) to keep thequantity of pure oxygen 43 and/or pharmaceutical composition 45 fromleaking or exiting the self-inflating bag 15 until activated by theuser/rescuer R.

The method of the present invention includes the step of first providinga cardiopulmonary resuscitation device 11 including a self-inflating bag15, target indicia 35 on the self-inflating bag 15 to indicate theproper position of the self-inflating bag on the patient's sternum areaSA and to indicate the proper location on the self-inflating bag 15 forapplying force to the top side 31 of the self-inflating bag 15, a facemask 19 for placement over the patient's mouth and nose, and a tube 41extending from the outlet port 17 of the self-inflating bag 15 to theface mask 19. The patient P is placed in a normal cardiopulmonaryresuscitation position, preferably supine with a neck support NS formaintaining the patient's airway open during resuscitation. The facemask 19 of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation device 11 is placed overthe patient's mouth and nose, and the self-inflating bag 15 of thecardiopulmonary resuscitation device 11 is placed on the patient's chestwith the target indicia 35 on the self-inflating bag 15 positioned overthe patient's sternum area SA. The user/rescuer R can then apply forceto the target indicia 35 on the self-inflating bag 15 of thecardiopulmonary resuscitation device 11 to first force air from theself-inflating bag 15 through the tube 41 and the face mask 19 into thepatient's lungs to ventilate the patient's lungs, and then to compressthe patient's sternum area SA. When the self-inflating bag 15 includes aquantity of pure oxygen 43, the step of applying force to the targetindicia 35 to first force air from the self-inflating bag 15 into thepatient's lungs to ventilate the patient's lungs also causes thequantity of pure oxygen 43 to be forced into the patient's lungs. Whenthe bag 15 includes a pharmaceutical composition 45, the step ofapplying force to the target indicia 35 to first force air from theself-inflating bag 15 into the patient's lungs to ventilate thepatient's lungs also causes the pharmaceutical composition 45 to beforced into the patient's lungs. After thus applying force to the targetindicia 35 on the self-inflating bag 15 of the cardiopulmonaryresuscitation device 11, the user/rescuer R releases the self-inflatingbag 15, and the bag 15 re-inflates by drawing atmosphere air into thebag 15 through the bag fill valve 29, while air from the patient's lungswill pass to atmosphere through the escape valve 27. Thesecardiopulmonary resuscitation steps can be repeated as necessary. Thecardiopulmonary resuscitation device 11 may include pressure sensors(not shown) to monitor chest compressions, and an audible means (notshown) that will orally walk a user/rescuer R through the steps of CPRusing the device.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated withrespect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred use therefor, it isnot to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made thereinwhich are within the full intended scope of the invention.

1. A cardiopulmonary resuscitation method for combining artificial,emergency ventilation of a patient's lungs with chest compressions onthe patient's sternum area, said method comprising the steps of: (a)providing a cardiopulmonary resuscitation device including aself-inflating bag, target indicia on said self-inflating bag toindicate the proper position of said self-inflating bag on the patient'ssternum area and to indicate the proper location on said self-inflatingbag for applying force to said top side of said self-inflating bag, aface mask for placement over the patient's mouth and nose, and a tubeextending from said outlet port of said self-inflating bag to said facemask; (b) placing said face mask of said cardiopulmonary resuscitationdevice over the patient's mouth and nose; (c) placing saidself-inflating bag of said cardiopulmonary resuscitation device on thepatient's chest with said target indicia on said self-inflating bagpositioned over the patient's sternum area; and (d) applying force tosaid target indicia on said self-inflating bag of said cardiopulmonaryresuscitation device to first force air from said self-inflating bagthrough said tube and said face mask into the patient's lungs toventilate the patient's lungs, and then to compress the patient'ssternum area.
 2. The cardiopulmonary resuscitation method of claim 1 inwhich said self-inflating bag includes a quantity of pure oxygen, and inwhich said step of applying force to said target indicia on saidself-inflating bag of said cardiopulmonary resuscitation device to firstforce air from said self-inflating bag through said tube and said facemask into the patient's lungs to ventilate the patient's lungs causessaid quantity of pure oxygen to be forced into the patient's lungs. 3.The cardiopulmonary resuscitation method of claim 1 in which saidself-inflating bag includes a pharmaceutical composition, and in whichsaid step of applying force to said target indicia on saidself-inflating bag of said cardiopulmonary resuscitation device to firstforce air from said self-inflating bag through said tube and said facemask into the patient's lungs to ventilate the patient's lungs causessaid pharmaceutical composition to be forced into the patient's lungs.